System, Method and Apparatus for Advanced Utility Control, Monitoring and Conservation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system, comprising:
- a utility meter including a communications interface for communicating usage data;
an IP multi-media device having a first communications interface configured to receive the usage data from the utility meter, and a second communications interface configured to communicate in real-time with a central monitoring station, wherein the second communications interface transmits the received usage data to the central monitoring station and receives at least one of control signals, data and information from the central monitoring station.
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Abstract
The present application is directed to a system and method of providing flexible real-time two-way energy control and monitoring between utility providers and consumers. Consumer friendly nodes permit communication of targeted information and control, while permitting the utility provider to remotely communicate and control in a real-time environment. Data collection of and accessibility by a community of utility consumers provides social feedback through comparative usage statistics.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a utility meter including a communications interface for communicating usage data; an IP multi-media device having a first communications interface configured to receive the usage data from the utility meter, and a second communications interface configured to communicate in real-time with a central monitoring station, wherein the second communications interface transmits the received usage data to the central monitoring station and receives at least one of control signals, data and information from the central monitoring station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An apparatus, comprising:
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a first communications interface configured to receive usage data from a utility meter; and a second communications interface configured to communicate in real-time with a central monitoring station, wherein the second communications interface transmits the received usage data to the central monitoring station and receives at least one of control signals, data and information from the central monitoring station. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method, comprising:
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receiving, with a communications device, usage data from a utility meter; transmitting, with the communications device, the usage data to a central monitoring station via a first real-time communications link; and receiving, with the communications device, at least one of control signals, data and information from the central monitoring station via the first real-time communications link. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification